314 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



remembered an occasion when some of our Kansas City friends indulged 

 in a little pleasantry at the expense of the part of Missouri which I 

 was supposed to represent, insinuating that there were rocks on our 

 hills, and that wolf scalps with us were an important commodity. As a 

 matter of self-defense, I referred to a recent debate in our State Legis- 

 lature on his subject, in whith it transpired that Jackson county, includ- 

 ing Kansas City, had that year drawn from the treasury twice as much 

 bounty as Shannon county, and that the conviction was irresistable ; that 

 the people of Jackson either raised wolves as an industry or scalped 

 their dogs. 



The wolf story was borrowed for the occasion, but to discuss the 

 subject assigned me, before a body of practical horticulturists, with only 

 borrowed facts, might again prove that a little knowledge is a dangerous 

 thing. I may, however, more safely refer to the mistakes of my life, 

 which have been many in this field, and in conclusion note some more 

 promising results speaking for this locality only. 



A mistake in ornamental planting which, year by year manifests 

 itself as a growing evil, has been referred to a thousand times, yet in 

 attempting the embellishment of our grounds, nearly all of us fall into 

 the same error. I refer to over- planting. Oar enthusiasm leads us to 

 attempt a botanical garden on the limits of a town lot. Trees and 

 shrubs which flourish with tropical luxuriance in illustrated catalogues, 

 are planted until the ground is filled beyond measure ; yet every season 

 brings some new marvel which is given a place with the omnibus idea 

 that there is always room for one more. 



With a deep soil and favoring climate, we might establish a mina- 

 ture jungle, but with the conditions prevalent on the Ozark plateau. 

 Natural selection and the survival of only the most hardy if not pro- 

 ductive of beautiful results, at least gives breathing room. 



A double row of maples or elms forming a canopy over the walk 

 on one or more sides produces a grateful shade ; but if these trees are 

 re-inforced by others of like habit scattered over the grounds, the cul- 

 tivation of flowers, foliage beds or of fine shrubbery is almost precluded. 

 The hungry tree roots exploring in every direction and far beyond what 

 might be thought their reach are sure to find every especially enriched or 

 watered plat, and in an incredibly short time these plats become a dense 

 mass of rootlets, and our weaker favorites give up the unequal contest. 

 I have sought a remedy by cutting trenches once or twice each season 

 around portions of my grounds, which I desire to protect from this 

 invasion, with partial success, but often some crafty root would dive 

 below the dead line and come up under a flower bed with the precision 

 of a mining engineer. Two remedies have been suggested to my mind, 



